What is the Big Red Safety Box? It's a free toolkit for families who have a child or children with autism. It provides educational information and tools that can assist in preventing and responding to wandering and elopement.

Community Based Vocational Instruction (CBVI) programs exist in every high school in St. Louis County. CBVI is intended to provide students with their first experience in the world of work.

CBVI students are able to sample a variety of entry-level jobs with a focus on learning general work behaviors and soft skills that can transfer to any “first” job experience. Students receive related instruction while on the high school campus that focuses on job skills, soft/interpersonal skills and independent living skills.

Participation in CBVI is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team decision.

Southview invited families to come and see a year's worth of student artwork, play on the new inclusive playground, and do a little literary shopping on April 26th.

Want to see your student in the next newsletter? Make sure you have a media release on file!

Did you know that movement and mental health go hand in hand? While it is obvious that your feelings can influence your movement, it is not as obvious that your movement can impact your feelings too. Recent studies show that the connection between your brain and your body is a "two-way street" and that means movement can change your brain, too!

Harvard Health Publishing gives a quick guide to how movement and exercise can help with some of the most common mental health ailments. See below!

Meditative movement, like yoga or Tai Chi, has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms. The slow movements with a focus on position, breathing, and bodily sensation can reduce post traumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Moderate intensity exercises, like cycling, can improve ADHD symptoms in the short term by enhancing motivation for tasks requiring focused thought and reduced feelings of confusion.

Check out these resources for more mental health movements!

On April 21st, Brooke Napolitano's class presented their research projects in front of many staff members and peers. Each student selected a topic that was of interest to them. Projects included topics such as boxing, football, alligators v. crocodiles, and Air Jordans. Presentations were done with posters, slide shows, and theme music! Students said they were nervous but enjoyed getting to show others their hard work and knowledge.

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Week? Or that May 6th is Kentucky Derby Day? May is also:

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Cinco de Mayo May 5

National Etiquette Week 2nd week in May

Mother’s Day May 14

Memorial Day Last Saturday in May

Check out May's Virtual Library features by clicking on the picture!

PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is a 12-16 week social skills program for children, teens or young adults with autism. In this program, individuals are engaged in learning real-life skills for connecting with others, as well as building and maintaining friendships.

Parents/Caregivers will also participate in the program and will be taught how to support and assist their child/young adult in making and keeping friends by coaching and providing feedback during weekly homework assignments. This program is offered to three age groups:

• Children’s Friendship Training: 3rd-5th graders

• PEERS: Middle and high school aged students

• PEERS for Young Adults: Individuals ages 18+ who are no longer in high school

New sessions will begin in May and August 2023. A pre-program assessment to determine eligibility is required. Funding options include DDRB, DMH and Private Pay.

For more information and to see if you qualify, please contact our Admissions Department at 314-394-7100 or via email info@esmw.org

The SSD Board of Education strives for transparency, accountability, and accessibility. We welcome family, staff, and community members to share comments, concerns, and ideas with SSD Board of Education members. To find the Board member representing your subdistrict, visit the Board of Education page on the SSD website.